Bible: Exodus 16:1-36

The Provision of Manna

When2 they journeyedfrom Elim, the entirecompany3of Israelitescametothe Desertof Sin, whichis betweenElimand Sinai, on the fifteenthdayof the secondmonthafter their exodus4from the landof Egypt.16:2The entirecompany5of IsraelitesmurmuredagainstMosesand Aaronin the desert.16:3The Israelitessaidtothem, “If onlywe had died6by the handof the Lordin the landof Egypt, when we satby7the potsof meat, when we atebreadto the full,8foryou have brought us outintothisdesertto kill9this wholeassemblywith hunger!”

16:4Then the Lordsaid toMoses, “I am goingto rain10breadfromheavenfor you, and the peoplewill go out11and gatherthe amountfor eachday, so that I maytestthem.12 Will they walkin my law13ornot?16:5Onthe sixthday14they will preparewhatthey bringin, and it will betwiceasmuch as they gatherevery other day.”15

16:6Mosesand Aaronsaidtoallthe Israelites, “In the evening16you will knowthatthe Lordhas brought you outof the landof Egypt,16:7and in the morningyou will see17the gloryof the Lord, because he has heard18your murmuringsagainstthe Lord. As for us, whatare we,19 thatyou should murmuragainstus?”

16:8Mosessaid, “You will know this20 when the Lordgivesyou21 meatto eatin the eveningand breadin the morningto satisfyyou, because the Lordhas heardyour murmuringsthatyouare murmuringagainsthim. As for us, whatare we?22 Your murmuringsare notagainstus,23 but againstthe Lord.”

16:10AsAaronspoke26tothe wholecommunityof the Israelitesand they lookedtowardthe desert, therethe gloryof the Lord27appeared28in the cloud,16:11and the LordspoketoMoses:16:12“I have heardthe murmuringsof the Israelites. Tellthem, ‘Duringthe evening29you will eatmeat,30and in the morningyou will be satisfied31with bread, so that you may know32thatIam the Lordyour God.’”33

16:16 “Thisis what43the Lordhascommanded:44 ‘Each personis to gather45fromit whathe can eat, an omer46per person47according to the number48of your people;49 eachone will pickit up50 for whoever lives51 in his tent.’”16:17The Israelitesdidso, and they gathered– some more, some less.16:18When52 they measuredwith an omer, the one who gatheredmuchhadnothingleft over, and the one who gathered littlelackednothing; eachone had gatheredwhathe could eat.

16:19Mosessaidto them, “Noone53is to keepanyof it54 untilmorning.”16:20But they did notlistentoMoses; some55kept partofit untilmorning, and it was full56of wormsand began to stink, and Moseswas angrywiththem.16:21So they gatheredit each morning,57each personaccordingto what he could eat, and when the sungot hot, it would melt.5816:22And59 onthe sixthdaythey gatheredtwiceas much food, twoomers60perperson;61 and allthe leaders62of the community63cameand told64Moses.16:23He saidtothem, “Thisis whatthe Lordhas said: ‘Tomorrowis a time of cessation from work,65a holySabbath66to the Lord. Whateveryou want to67 bake, baketoday;68 whateveryou want to boil, boiltoday; whateveris leftput asidefor yourselves to be keptuntilmorning.’”

16:24So they putit asideuntilthe morning, justas Moseshad commanded, and it did notstink, norwere there any wormsin it.16:25Mosessaid, “Eatit today, fortodayis a Sabbathto the Lord; todayyou will notfindit in the area.6916:26Sixdaysyou will gatherit, but on the seventhday, the Sabbath, there will notbeany.”